Companies Incorporated Kevin Wessell, Companies Incorporated are nothing but SCAM artists and thieves. Santa Clarita, California

October 25, 2007. Met a salesmen by the name of Marc Cajigal at Companies Incorporated in Valencia with my business partner Damon. I informed Marc about my desire to obtain a business loan in order to pay off debts and finish construction on my rental property located in West Hills, CA. I told him that I was looking for approximately a $250,000 to $300,000 loan. He informed me that the best way to get a type of loan like this was to obtain a aged corporation which Companies Inc. sold. He informed me that in order to obtain the kind of loan that I was looking for, I would have to purchase a corporation that was at least three years old. I asked how much a three year old corporation would cost and he informed me that it was in the $2,500-$3,000 range. We then started talking about a corporation that Companies Inc. had for sale. The cost for this company for sale was approximately $2,600. I told him that I was interested in purchasing this aged company and asked what the process was to get a loan for this it. Mr. Cajigal informed me that in order to get the kind of loan I was looking for, I would also have to purchase their ELITE CREDIT PROGRAM which handled the entire process for me including setting up trade references and setting up credit lines. The cost for this service was $4,000. I agreed to do this and set up another meeting for November.

November 9, 2007. Met Marc Cajigal again at Companies Inc. in Valencia. Once again Mr. Cajigal assured me that obtaining a loan in the $250,000-$300,000 range was in his words no problem. On that day, I purchased the aged company for approximately $2,600 on my credit card. I then asked him about the ELITE CREDIT PROGRAM and he told me someone from his office would call me regarding the details on how to pay for it and set it up. 

December 13, 2007. Received an email from Marc Cajigal which I had to sign in order for my credit card to be charged the $4,000 for the ELITE CREDIT PROGRAM

December 17, 2007. Someone from Direct Credit Advantage named Emily Bush called me and sent me an e-mail letting me know that they were going to be handling the credit establishment for me as part of the ELITE CREDIT PROGRAM. She told me that they work with Companies Inc. all the time and that I had nothing to worry about. They emailed me a Welcome Packet which laid out what I now had to do to expedite the process which included information on how to set up the trade references myself! This went directly against what Mr. Cajigal told me. Confused and desperate, I decided to research this. 

January 7, 2008. After a few weeks of seeking out trade references that Direct Credit Advantage supplied me (many of which did not work or were out of business), I faxed over what I had come up with. Again, I was not happy that I had to do the leg work on something that was promised to me, but I did it anyway. I then called over to Emily Bush to make sure she got my completion of the Welcome Packet. She told me that in a few weeks time I should have a DUNS number from Dunn and Bradstreet as well as a Paydex score and at that point I could start applying for loans. 

January 30, 2008. Getting frustrated now because I have not heard anything from Direct Credit Advantage (DCA) about my profile. I am starting to wonder just what I paid $7,000 for. I call over to DCA to find out what is going on and spoke to one of their managers named Chris. He told me everything was fine and even told me he had a few more trade references he could attach to my profile to make it look more attractive. I again asked him about getting going on a loan because the real estate market was starting to change and I really needed to move on fixing up my rental property. He told me that everything would be fine and that someone would get back to me shortly. 

February 14, 2008. After two weeks I receive an e-mail from Emily Bush regarding some lenders. I contacted some of the lenders she provided in the email who informed me that they didnt deal with companies that were less that 5 years old!! My company was only 3 years old. A couple of the lenders informed me that my newly purchased company had a cloud over it and could not receive financing!!

February 20, 2008. I receive a call from my friend Gene who also purchased a aged corporation from Companies Inc. after my reccomendation. He informed me that he was having problems getting a loan with his company as well. Both Gene and I then call over to DCA to find out what is going on. I spoke to a gentleman named Sarkus, the president of DCA, who informed me that my company and Genes company were purchased by Companies Inc. years ago under the Registered Agent name Presidential Services Inc which Dunn and Bradstreet had red flagged as a high risk before they were even sold to us. Thus, any loan that was attempted with these companies would be rejected. Sarkus also told me that they are now in a lawsuit with Companies Inc and that they could not be trusted. Sarkus informs then me that I should ask for my money back from Companies Inc. and to purchase a new company with DCA with a new registered agent. This same week I find out that Marc Cajigal, the gentleman who had originally sold me on this entire Business credit financing process, has been fired by Companies Inc and now works for Direct Credit Advantage!!! I spoke with Marc, and he informed me that Companies Inc is in turmoil and that I should now only deal directly with DCA. At this point I really do not know who to trust or who to believe. 

February 21, 2008. I call over to Companies Inc. to get their side of the story. I spoke to a gentleman by the name of Jeff Ray who is one of the mangers. He told me that nothing was wrong and that everything is being handled. I informed him that as long as Presidential Services was attached to the corporation I purchased, I would have difficulty obtaining a loan. He again said that everything would be fine. When I asked him about the $4,000 I spent for the ELITE CREDIT  PROGRAM, he told me that Companies Inc. would be taking over my account from here on out and that I should no longer speak with DCA!  

February 25, 2008. I receive a letter from the Secretary of State that my company has changed Registered Agents from something called Presidential Services to a subsidiary of Companies Inc., Registered Agents of America. Something is not right in Denmark.  

February 27, 2008. I receive an email from Jeff Ray with a brand new credit establishment welcome package application which basically lets me know that I now have to start from scratch with new trade references! I attempt to use a new list of trade references that Companies Inc. provided me, and the majority of them did not work. Again, I kept thinking that all of this work was supposed to be done for me. What did I spend $7,000 for? Why was I running all over town when Companies Inc. promised me these trade lines would be established for me? What I was doing is not what I was promised. At this point I am now furious! Months have passed and the real estate market has changed, my adjustable rate mortgage came in on my rental property and I am now at the mercy of Companies Inc. I am now buried financially and am forced to place my rental property in West Hills up for a short sale. 

March 3, 2008. I speak to a gal named Brenda from Companies Inc. who tells me that she will be handling everything for me from here on out. She apologizes profusely for the handling of my account and once again I am promised that everything will be handled for me including setting me up in a new program they had where aged trade lines and references were already set-up and that I should check back in a few weeks to find out the status. I tell Brenda that unfortunately the window of opportunity for me to obtain a loan has passed because of Companies Inc and DCAs mishandling of my account and that I would have to wait. She informs me that she will still work on my account. 

May 1, 2008. I havent heard from Companies Inc for two months. I call over to the office to find out what is going on with my account. They tell me someone will get back to me. No one did. 

May 3-5, 2008. I attempt to call Companies Inc over the next few days, but their lines are busy. 

June 2008- May 2009.  My credit ruined because of financial difficulty and having to short sale my rental property, I spent the rest of the year settling debts and trying to repair my credit rating knowing that in order for me to obtain a business loan now that it would have to be personally guaranteed against my own credit score. 

May 11, 2009. After working on my credit score, I decide to do some research on my company to see if anything Brenda had promised over the year had been done. Nothing! Not one trade line and no credit establishment. I then decide to make a trip to Companies Inc. to confront Jeff Ray in person and demand my money back. I informed him that Companies Inc. did not live up to their promises and that I am extremely unsatisfied. I told him that I just wanted my $7,000 back. Jeff then brings in one of the CEOs named Matt. Again, I explain the situation and that I that I think it was highly unfair to treat customers this way and that I thought I got caught up in their drama. I reminded him of their websites 100% money back customer satisfaction guarantee in which they promise that this process would be set-up quickly and accurately or your money back, neither of which happened. I told them that I did not want to make an issue out of this, but to just return my money to me. Matt attempted to try and get me to complete the credit establishment program, at which point I informed him that I no longer trusted the integrity of the company and that I just wanted my money back. He said he understood and that he would have to talk to the other CEO, Kevin Wessell. 

May 13, 2009. I call over to Jeff Ray to find out the status of my refund. He transfers me over to the CEO Matt. Matt then informs me that he spoke to the other CEO and says all of the money has been paid out. I said to him, Well, what does that have to do with me? Nothing has been done on my account that was promised to me. He then offers me $250!! He then says, but if youd like to continue with your credit establishment we could do that. I then remind him of his companys 100% money back customer satisfaction guarantee, and he replies, We tried to work with you but you did not return phone calls and you missed meetings. Needless to say I was FURIOUS and could tell where this was now leading. I informed him that if I do not receive my money back by the end of the day that there would be a legal issue. He said, Thats fine then. Two weeks later I filed a small claims case against Companies Incorporated in the amount of $7,000

October 19,2009.I show up for my case in Small Claims Court in Santa Clarita, CA. Kevin Wessell shows up on behalf of Companies Incorporated. The judge, as is customary, encourages all parties that showed up for hearings that day to try and come to a settlement outside the courtroom before any hearing takes place. I step outside with Mr. Wessel who to my amazement is still completely defiant. I tell him that he is not going to win this case because I had substantial evidence against him with my dealings with their subsidiary Direct Credit Advantage. Again, I reminded him of the 100% money back guarantee which stated that my company would be established quickly and accurately or your money back and even showed him a printout from HIS website. He says, Well, you didnt return phone calls and you didnt complete your welcome package, but if you would like to complete the process we could do that. Otherwise, well just hear what the judge has to say. I say to him, Are you f-ing kidding me?! This is how you treat your customers? You are actually willing to go into this courtroom to FIGHT to keep my money?! He says, Yes. The case begins in court, I show the judge the email exchanges between me and DCA which PROVE I was attempting to do my part including the completed welcome package, I describe the complete debacle regarding the cloud over my registered agent, I express my displeasure, I show the 100% money back guarantee. Mr. Wessell then completely LIES to the judge stating that I missed numerous meeting and didnt return phone calls. Again, I kept looking at this a-hole in court fighting to keep my money!!! The jude ruled in my favor however there were some non-refundable expenses with DCA so I came to an agreement in the amount of $3,900. Outside the courthouse, I tell Kevin that we didnt have to go through all of this if he would have just refunded my money like I wanted months ago. He said he was sorry I wasnt satisfied with the process. 

November 4, 2009. I call over to Kevin Wessells office at Companies Incorporated to see about the status of my refund. They put me on hold forever and then finally connect me with Matt Mitchell. I ask him whats the status of my refund. He replies, we are filing an appeal on the case. I was in shock! I compromised in court to the tune of $3,900 instead of the $7,000 and these mother f-ers are still fighting to keep my money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have not received my appeal papers yet, so this story still does not have an ending. But I did find it very interesting that the Companies Incorporated web site no longer displays the 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee, but rather something that says your satisfaction is guaranteed but nothing about GETTING YOUR MONEY BACK! But the moral here is that Companies Incorporated CANNOT BE TRUSTED. I implore any of you who are thinking of buying an aged corporation to NOT do business with these people. They are liars and thieves who hide themselves behind the protection of Limited Liability companies. I got suckered and sweet talked into believing that if I purchased an aged corporation with this elite credit program that everything would be handled for me.  Well if something sounds too good to be true, then it usually is. Dont trust all companies just because they may reside in a marble building or have a very slick looking website. It could become a VERY expensive mistake if you dont do the research. Please dont make the same mistake I did.